Every hero needs a villain – one they can defeat and prove that good can triumph over evil. However, when I was a kid and watched countless movies that followed this formula, I rarely considered what made all these villains evil in the first place. Have they always been like this, or have tragic circumstances led them down this unfortunate path? This is a large part of the reason for this phenomenon evil Such an interesting (and very successful) Broadway production with a story. Explore the evil witch’s origin story long before she inherits the title and learn about the motivations for her actions, forcing you to see the character in a completely different way. Because, it turns out, the concepts of good and bad are not as black and white as you might think. Even in the wonderful world of Oz, life can get complicated.
So, in honor of the highly anticipated film adaptation evilI thought it would be interesting to consider what other popular villains deserved their own origin story treatment. It’s possible that Elphaba isn’t the only bad guy to get a bad rap over the years. In fact, maybe some of these characters aren’t bad at all, just misunderstood. It’s easy to root for the heroes, but what if you find yourself rooting for the villains? Now this is a movie!
I say it’s time we take a different look at some of entertainment’s most iconic villains and give these villains the attention they deserve.
Captain Hook (peter pan)
2015 movies pan gives viewers a taste of what young Hook was like before he became captain of the Jolly Roger, and shows that the swashbuckling pirate was actually a decent guy for a time. However, the movie ends before we see what caused him to change and become the infamous pirate we all love to hate. Sure, having your hand taken away by a crocodile is enough to make anyone a little upset, but he had become Peter’s nemesis even before that, since they were dueling when it happened. I need to know more about how this transformation happened. Maybe we’ll find out that Peter played a role (pun intended) in Hook’s downward spiral.
Ursula (little mermaid)
See, I’ve been trying to protect Ursula the Sea Witch, so I’m very interested in my Tentacle Queen’s origin story. It might be really exciting to delve deeper into when and why she was exiled from the Atlantic in the first place. Are there any other switches like hers? How did she gain her powers? These are details that help explain her future actions. That might not entirely absolve her of responsibility (after all, she turned the mermaid into a polyp), but it could help humanize—or, um, sea life? — in a way she never had before.
Jafar (Aladdin)
Of course, we can assume that Jafar’s motivations are as obvious as they appear on the surface: he’s just a guy hungry for money and power. But what if there’s more to it? Was Jafar or his family at some point mistreated by the palace, leading him on a path of revenge? I beg you: give this guy more depth!
Agatha Trunchbull (Matilda)
Forcing someone to eat an entire chocolate cake in front of the entire school, grabbing a girl by her braids, spinning her around, and tossing her into the air—this is a woman who enjoys not just torturing children, but torturing them. She is so creative. I’m not sure what exactly happened to her that made her kill her brother and despise children (while also choosing a career that keeps her around them), but you better believe I want to know. Then again, maybe I just have a soft spot for bad guys named Agatha.
Ms. Tremaine (cinderella)
When it comes to the Evil Stepmother troupe, no one does it better than this woman. Regardless, it’s worth exploring the status of her marriage to Cinderella’s father before his death. Do they really love each other? Because anyone who has experienced real grief knows how profound an impact it can have, this may have had an impact on Lady Tremaine’s behavior after her death. Of course, that doesn’t mean her behavior can be forgiven. But the message is something powerful that will definitely change her perspective on moving forward.
Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)
You know you’re a badass when your signature catchphrase is “Off with their heads!” Seriously, she yells at people for even the slightest infraction. She is truly the OG boss lady of Wonderland and we love her for it. But, I mean, there has to be a story behind this, right? There must be a reason this girl is obsessed with beheadings, and I’d love to know what that reason is.
Doomsday Judge (who framed roger rabbit)
This guy hates music and destroys it on purpose. However, he himself It’s toon. It feels like some deep-seated self-loathing that just needs to be explored further.
scar(lion king)
There’s no denying this guy is bad news. Killing his brother and then sending hyena assassins to kill his nephew so he could take over the kingdom is an inexcusable act of villainy. However, I’m still a little… Love that guy? Maybe it’s his iconic solo track “Be Preparation,” or maybe it’s just his sarcastic, sassy quips. Regardless, Scar is the true prima donna of Pride Rock and I’m desperately looking for an excuse to root for this diva. Was Mufasa mean to him as a child? Did the two of them form a band of lions together (may I suggest Pride Rock and Prejudice?) until Mufasa broke the alliance and became king? Is his name really Scar? Disney, ~please~ give this leading lady the attention he’s been craving.
Maybe with a little understanding and encouragement, the behavior and reputations of these screen villains can change… forever.
